Assessing user interactions on shared recreational trails by long-term video monitoring

Abstract

Video monitoring was applied to identify user interactions on shared trails in an urban forest in Vienna, to explore causes of interactions and support area management. Video monitoring was undertaken at three main access points, over a period of 1 year between January 2002 and January 2003, daily from dawn to dusk. In total, 284 user interactions involving 1100 visitors, i.e., 0.45% of all visitors observed, were recorded. Most interactions were identified as displacement behaviour to avoid collisions with other users. Bicyclists, maintenance cars, large groups and children were more likely to be involved in an interaction. Through the simultaneous observation of recreation use at the access points during the year, potentially influencing factors were explored. Interactions depended on use levels, user composition for each trail, temporal use patterns of user groups, and the suitability of trails for various user groups. Management implications include actions to separate use, influence visitor behaviour and reduce use pressure.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Forest Department of the City of Vienna commissioned the Institute of Landscape Development, Recreation and Conservation Planning to collect data on public use. A preliminary version of this paper was presented at the MMV 3 conference in Rapperswil, Switzerland, September 2006.